NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 49

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING, CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association to-night the chairman (Mr P. Selig) addressed members on various phases of the year's work. The popularity of the sport, he said, had grown apace, and since the last annual meeting five new clubs had been formed. Steps were being taken to secure further totalisator permits. He quoted statistics which showed that racing permits totalled 222 and the trotting permits 59, and s-aid that unless facilities were given it would be impossible for trotting to be established in new places. It '•iu bscn admitted by a former Minister of Internal Affairs that the trotting clubs had not received their full share of licenses, and those held in abeyance had since been absorbed by the racing clubs. It was not desired that any permits should be taken away from the racing clubs, but that justice should be done by the legislature and totalisator permits granted to new clubs and to those which at present raced in conjunction with racing clubs. The demand for richer stakes w T ould no doubt be considered by well established clubs. He expressed the opinion that liberal accommodation for the public should be provided on all courses. After commenting on the increased vigilance of stewards and officials, which had led to a decided falling off in complaints, he mode reference to the vexed question of starting, and said he thought it was important that there should be only one system throughout the dominion. Tho matter had been postponed by the conference for one year. In conclusion, he mentioned that next- year the board would consist of six South and three North Island representatives. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Messrs P. Selig, H. W. Kitchinghom, and J. M. Samson (South Island), and C. F. Mark and R. L. Short (North Island) were re-elected to the board. The board for 1919-20 is, therefore, the same as it was last year - . At a meeting of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association to-night, an application from the newly-formed Te Aroha Club for registration was granted, and a similar application from the North Auckland Club, with headquarters at Whangarei, was also granted, subject, to the Auckland Trotting Club offering no objection to the name of the new club. Mr J. B. Grant, of Taupiri, applied for the removal of the disqualification of his hors» Striker for competing at an unregistered meeting at Taupiri last Easter. —The application was granted. A letter was read' from Mr M. Edwards, stating that he had had to undergo an operation for a cataract on his eye, which his medical advisers considered wos due to ridling in muddy weather. He had been put to considerable expense, and the association was asked to give him some financial assistance.—The matter was referred to the Licensing Committee. Riders' licenses only were granted to R. R. M'Seveney, L. C. Frost, O. Reed, C. Smith, and R, B. N. Reed.